Sunday, June 9, 2013

June 9th - whats next?

Its three years to the day, when on June 9th 2010, I left my apartment in Holland and drove back to the UK after completing my 22 year service with the British Army.

One year later and on June 9th 2011, I was left alone in Fremantle, just outside of Perth, Western Australia. Buffy had just left to travel to Asia and I had a few days left alone in Australia.

Just a year ago today and I was with Buffy in Montreal, Canada, watching the Canadian Grand Prix qualifying on a lovely Saturday afternoon.
Its fairly safe to say that I like June the 9th's! So its a good day to tell you what I'm planning next......

So, June 9th 2013 - I have been 'travelling', for nearly three years and I'm back at home in Winnipeg. All 50 states of
the US of A are done, in the bag and stamped forever in the annals of my history.

Where the hell am I going to go and what am I going to do after
travelling around the world and seeing just about every part of the USA? Yes,
there are more adventures out there – South America, Africa and the huge
expanse of Russia are all places that I have on my hit list of destinations.
But for now, I am planning on a spectacular trip to one of the greatest corners
of the globe. This one place has the history and the geography to rival
anywhere on earth.

This small island has punched above its weight for the last
few hundred years.It ruled over the
world with an empire that was the largest and greatest empire the world has
ever known. It once controlled nearly a quarter of the entire earth. The Mongol
and the Russian empires only ever took about 15% and the Roman Empire at its
height only controlled about 5%. However, the power of this place is currently in decline and I would
like to spend some time there before it disappears completely under control of
the rest of its continent.

On this little island you can find ancient history dating
back not hundreds or thousands of years but millions of years. The geography of
the place is spectacular with rolling hills, mountains, lakes, beaches and
forests.

Culturally it is one of the most diverse places on earth, with people
from all around the globe visiting and living there. Its recent history sees it
winning two huge wars, inspiring the world during the industrial revolution and
creating world leading innovations such at the first computer, the hovercraft,
the jet engine, steam engines, diesel engines, the first railway, tarmac,
football, cycling, rugby, cricket, golf, curling, electric transformers,
microchips, bangers and mash, cheddar cheese, fish and chips, rubber bands and
even the world’s first pay toilet were invented here. Without this tiny little
insignificant island life today would just not be the same. How many places on
earth can you honestly say that about?

Obviously by now you will have realised just where I am
talking about...I’m talking about the UK, Great Britain and especially England.
Where the modern 20th century world we all live in began. It’s now
the 21st century though and as other countries around the world take
their turn on the centre stage of innovation, I want to be able to look around
the place where I lived my youth from a new perspective.

I haven’t actually spent more than a few weeks at a
time in the green fields of England since I moved to Northern Ireland in 2004
and am really looking forward to seeing it again. I have now travelled my way
around the world and can look at it from a different angle, almost like the 30
million people who go there every year.

So there you are – in late August this year, myself and Miss
Buffy Cowtan will pack up our stuff and fly (via a week’s holiday in Iceland)
to England. We will be staying in the greatest city in the country –
Manchester, with the best people, nightlife, sporting arenas, food and weather (If you like rain!)

Our intention is to stay for the whole of 2014 and into 2015
– we may stay longer if we end up with jobs we both enjoy, but we will take
that as it comes. Yes, I did mention jobs – we want to travel about, see the
country and have a lot of fun, but we also need to be sensible so at least a
part time job is on the agenda and if the right job comes along it may well be
full time.

So, if you are reading this and know me or Buffy and are
located somewhere in the England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales or even in Europe –
then get in touch and arrange a night out with us. I’d love everyone to meet
Buffy and get to know her. Plus if anyone knows of any jobs going in the
Manchester area for either of us – let us know!!